ephebiphobia

thumb|A group of teens Ephebiphobia is the fear of youth. First coined as the "fear or loathing of teenagers", the phenomenon is recognized today as the "inaccurate, exaggerated and sensational characterization of young people" in a range of settings around the world. Studies of the fear of youth occur in sociology and youth studies. It is distinguished from pedophobia by being more focused on adolescents than prepubescent children.

==Lexicology== ===Coinage=== The word ephebiphobia is formed from the Greek éphēbos, meaning "youth" or "adolescent" and phóbos, meaning "fear" or "phobia". The coinage of this term is attributed to a 1994 article by Kirk Astroth published in Phi Delta Kappan. Today, common usage occurs internationally by sociologists, government agencies, and youth advocacy organizations that define ephebiphobia as an abnormal or irrational and persistent fear or loathing of teenagers or adolescence.